General Brown superintendent to resign June 30 to teach social studies

DEXTER — After spending more than a decade as General Brown Central School District’s superintendent, Stephan J. Vigliotti Sr. will resign, effective June 30, to fill a social studies teaching position at the junior-senior high school.

Board President Tasha L. Richards presented the resolution to the board during its monthly meeting Monday, but there was no discussion among board members, nor comments offered by Mr. Vigliotti, before the board voted 6-0 to accept his resignation. Board member John Hardy was absent from the meeting.

After the vote, there was faint applause from at least one person who attended the meeting.

Mr. Vigliotti’s resignation comes three years after he was chastised by district taxpayers over how the resignation of former Dexter Elementary Principal Michael Lennox was handled in early January 2010. By February 2010, district taxpayers were told they weren’t even allowed to say Mr. Vigliotti’s name during public comment. A petition even circulated before the Feb. 22, 2010, board meeting, calling for Mr. Vigliotti’s resignation. Nearly two months after that, Mr. Vigliotti requested his contract not be extended beyond June 30, 2014.

He then asked the Board of Education for the next two consecutive school years not to extend his contract beyond June 30, 2014. His superintendent’s contract is renewable by board action each year.

Attached to the meeting agenda was a copy of Mr. Vigliotti’s resignation letter to Mrs. Richards, which was dated Jan. 10. He said in the letter that he has considered “leaving the position as superintendent of schools for some time. After some reflection I have decided I would like to return to my roots as an educator and to teaching.”

Since the district would have a vacant social studies teacher for grades seven to 12, Mr. Vigliotti said in the letter he was willing to resign as superintendent at the end of the current school year as long as the board appoints him to the social studies position as of July 1. After a two-year probationary appointment, the board will consider him for tenure in that position.

Mrs. Richards also presented fellow board members with a resolution to appoint Mr. Vigliotti to the social studies teacher position, effective July 1, which the board accepted 6-0.

While in 2010 Mr. Vigliotti said he had no intentions of ending his General Brown Central career, he was named a finalist for a superintendent position at Newfane Central School District in Niagara County. He was not hired. In May 2012, he was named a finalist as superintendent for the Auburn Enlarged City School District, according to the Auburn publication The Citizen. He also was not selected for that post.

He began his General Brown career in August 1997 when he was named Brownville-Glen Park Elementary principal. Nearly two years later, he was named principal of the junior-senior high school. In February 2001 he was elevated to superintendent when former Superintendent William K. Archer announced his retirement.

According to Mr. Vigliotti’s 2009-10 employment agreement, his salary is $143,036.40. In his resignation letter, he said that given his service with the school district he would be at step 20, with a starting annual salary for the 2013-14 school year of $65,303. He also said he would be entitled to credit for 23 years of service, as he came to the district from various positions in other school districts.

If he uses no sick time between now and June 30, Mr. Vigliotti will be able to transfer 247.5 sick days to his employment as a social studies teacher. He also will be paid $18,979.83 for 34.5 unused vacation days if he does not use any between now and June 30.

While the board originally was scheduled to meet again Jan. 28, that has been changed to 6 p.m. Jan. 30 at the junior-senior high school, 17643 Cemetery Road, so Jefferson-Lewis BOCES Superintendent Jack J. Boak can explain the superintendent search process.

Commenting rules:

Stick to the topic of the article/letter/editorial.

When responding to issues raised by other commenters, do not engage in personal attacks or name-calling.

Comments that include profanity/obscenities or are libelous in nature will be removed without warning.

Violators' commenting privileges may be revoked indefinitely. By commenting you agree to our full Terms of Use.